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A comprehensive poll conducted among Nigerians across several states has shown deep public unease over the treatment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), following the deaths of 37 miners held in a federal NSCDC cell in Minna.
Respondents repeatedly contrasted the severe measures taken against Civil Defence personnel with the far milder responses to earlier civilian deaths caused by federal military operations in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Zamfara.
The poll results indicate that a large majority of those surveyed view the current handling of the Minna incident as an example of selective justice that risks demoralising an entire federal security agency.
According to the findings, 85 people died in Kaduna when an army drone struck a religious gathering in Tudun Biri in December 2023. Amnesty International put the death toll closer to 120. One man lost 34 relatives in the strike.
Poll participants noted that Governor Uba Sani was never asked to resign. Neither the Chief of Defence Staff nor the Chief of Army Staff nor any officers from the unit responsible were required to step aside or face suspension. Respondents described this as the accepted pattern when the armed forces are involved.
In Nasarawa, 37 civilians, mostly Fulani herders, died in Rukubi in January 2023 after an air force strike. The Air Force formally apologised and admitted the action was accidental and regrettable.
Those polled observed that Governor Abdullahi Sule was not called upon to step down. The Chief of Air Staff and the officers involved were likewise left in post. Survey participants said the apology alone was considered sufficient.
In Zamfara, 16 vigilantes died in Tungar Kara in January 2025 when an air force strike mistook them for bandits. Poll respondents pointed out that no demand was made for Governor Dauda Lawal to resign. Once again, no senior military officers faced suspension or public investigation of the kind now directed at the Civil Defence Corps.
The Minna case, by contrast, has produced a markedly different reaction. 37 miners died while in the custody of the NSCDC, a federal agency. The federal government has moved to suspend more than 24 officers.
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There are open calls for the Niger State governor to be voted out of office. Police have been brought in to investigate and civilians have been constituted into an inquiry panel. Respondents in the opinion poll described these steps as an insult and a disgrace.
Many asked why a different strategy is being applied only when the Civil Defence Corps is involved.
A strong theme running through the poll responses is that the NSCDC is being treated as a baby organisation that can be sacrificed. Officers who carried out a task and mandate duly assigned by the Federal Government are now being victimised.
Participants warned that such selective justice will demoralise so many officers going forward.
“No one will be willing to put his neck on the line henceforth if the outcome is suspension, public humiliation and investigation by the police,” a respondent said.
Several respondents invoked the words of a former governor who spoke of sacrificing the scapegoat, arguing that the Civil Defence Corps is being made to play exactly that role.
The overall verdict from the opinion poll is that while no Nigerian is happy that the deaths in Minna occurred, the differential treatment of NSCDC officers is unacceptable.
Respondents insisted that the same standard of accountability applied to the army and air force in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Zamfara must apply here. They called for the release of Civil Defence officers held on account of this incident and for an end to the selective approach that singles out one federal agency while leaving others untouched.
